Fathers Day is this Sunday, June 16th. We’ve got many unique items for Dad in the shop including locally made bat houses! Bats consume a tremendous number of mosquitoes nightly and are a great option for pest control. Ask us for more fun facts about bats in the store, or grab a book on bats … Read more
Sweets for the Sweet In May, we begin to see the arrival of hummingbirds, orioles and warblers. The beautiful but elusive warblers are generally happy within the safe cover of trees to provide a healthy diet of insects, but hummingbirds and orioles will come to gardens and feeders if we provide what they love … Read more
Mother’s Day is Sunday May 12th this year! This means there’s not much time left to go find that perfectly unique gift for the Moms in your life! Luckily the shop is loaded with beautiful options. We have locally made jewelry, hummingbird feeders, puzzles, pottery, metal art, and handblown glass hearts! If Mom’s a gardener … Read more
You’ve purchased and set up your bird feeding station, filled it with high-quality bird food, sat down by the window with your binoculars and identification guide, and… …no birds! What’s up with that? Birds need food to survive, of course, and feeders can provide them with desperately needed calories, especially in the deep cold of … Read more
For many, late-summer is hailed by runny noses, itchy eyes, and irritated throats. Plenty of colourful flowers are in bloom at this time of year, including Queen Anne’s Lace (a.k.a. Wild Carrot), New England Asters, and Blueweed (a.k.a. Viper’s Bugloss), but the new bloom on the block when these allergies hit is the conspicuous bright … Read more
The two most recent Garden Gate episodes were filmed in my backyard. The first is about setting up a squirrel-proof bird feeding station. It aired recently and is now on the Avant-Garden Shop’s YouTube channel. The second is about including trees and shrubs in your landscaping plans to attract birds and provide shelter. It may … Read more
CHEX TV air date: June 9th, 2017 Click link to watch this episode online. Everyone has their favourite tool! Getting in the garden, this must have tool is certainly going to be in your bag of tricks (or tub trug!) On this episode I had some very experienced gardeners sharing some of their favourite tools … Read more
CHEX TV airdate: Friday May 12th, 2017 Click link to watch this episode online. The nice weather has finally arrived! It’s time to get out and absorb some vitamin D. We have some fun, retro patio chairs now in stock. These “motel” chairs have been in production in Canada since 1973! They’re super comfy too. … Read more
CHEX TV airdate: August 5th, 2016 5-6pmClick link to watch this episode online. Rain chains originated in Japan and have been used as artistic decorations for the home for many years. You often see them in magazines but to find quality ones in shops has been difficult. But no more! We have a lovely supply … Read more
CHEX TV airdate: July 22nd, 5-6pmClick link to watch this episode online Oh the heat! Oh the sun! Who would have thought we could be complaining about too much sun after the last couple of winters we’ve endured!? But, under our breath we complain (a little). Be aware! The occurrence of sun burns and skin cancer … Read more